PLUS: MARATHON; New York Winner Caught in Snow Slide

The women's winner of the 1997 New York City Marathon, Franziska Rochat-Moser of Switzerland, 35, was caught in a snow slide while climbing in the Alps and was in critical condition.

A snow ledge collapsed under her weight in L'Etivaz, Switzerland, and she fell about 2,300 feet, the Vaud state police said yesterday. She was near the 7,670-foot La Para peak, not far from the Les Diablerets resort.

Fellow climbers were able to dig her free and alerted rescue services. She was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Lausanne, the police said.

Rochat-Moser won the 1997 marathon in 2 hours 28 minutes 43 seconds. Two years ago she was second in the Boston Marathon. She retired in July following a hip operation.